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WELLSBURG -- The Brooke football team got its season off to a strong start what is now almost two weeks ago, but had to wait to try and build on that momentum.
The Bruins, after a 46-6 win on the road at Lincoln County on opening night, had a bye week last week in Week 2 of the West Virginia season.
After another full week of practice to heal up and regroup, the Bruins are back in action Friday night in their jome opener, welcoming Cambridge to Paul "Bud" Billiard Field inside Brooke Memorial Stadium.
"Our kids are super anxious to play again," Brooke head coach Frank Sisinni said. "They got off to a great start and then we had to sit and watch other teams play. They're ready to get back on the field.
"They're excited to play at home for the first time in front of our community.
"Our practices this week have been some of our best practices so far this season. They're excited and focusing in on the task at hand."
The Bruins have a chance to start the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2023 season.
"It would be huge for the program," Sisinni said of starting 2-0. "It would show the kids the payday is there for all the hard work they put in over the summer, and what better way to do it than in our home opener with our crowd excited and behind us."
While Brooke is coming off a big win, the Bobcats come to Brooke County looking for their first win since the 2022 season as they are off to an 0-3 start after a couple of winless seasons.
After opening the season with a 49-36 defeat at Indian Creek in Ohio Week 1, the Bobcats fell 41-13 to rival John Glenn in Week 2 at home and on the road at Meadowbrook 40-7 last week.
"They're a team that's hungry for a win," Sisinni said of Cambridge. "They have a good quarterback that is a dual threat and they're going to be playing really hard to get their coach his first win. We know we have to be ready to go."
They do have some weapons to contend with as quarterback AJ Lawrence has ran for 275 yards and four touchdowns and thrown for 251 and another score.
Wideout Damien Kissinger has six catches for 110 yards on the season.
Defensively, senior Caden Ryan has three tackles for loss and a sack and Kissinger had a fumble recovery.
The Bruins won last year's meeting, 24-14, in what was the third game of the season and the Bruins' first win of the season and for head coach Frank Sisinni at his alma mater.
In the win over Lincoln, the Bruins got a big performance from QB Kamden Sperringer, who went 9 of 10 for 263 yards and five touchdowns. Bryden Hostin was on the receiving end of two of those scores covering 108 yards and Sperringers completions went to eight different players.
On defense, Cole Bolen had five tackles and two tackles for loss and Kayden Thomas had five tackles and a TFL. Kaleb Nielson had an interception and Memphis McCoy a fumble recovery.